Restoration of Northern Railway network expedited
The construction work of the railway line between Medavachchiya
and Thalaimannar has been expedited. The construction will be carried out in two
stages.
65 percent of the construction work between Medavachchiya and
Madhu which is under the phase one of the project has been completed. Under this
phase 43 kilometres of the railway line will be constructed at a cost of 81.3
million rupees. The construction work of this phase is expected to be completed
in March next year prior to next year's Madu Festival.
Construction work of the second stage covering 63 kilometers
from Madhu to Thalaimannar is also being carried out simultaneously and 40
percent of the work of this phase has been completed. The construction work of
this phase will be completed by September next year.
Ministers Kumara Welgama, Basil Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa,
Rishard Bathiudeen and the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kanth
inspected the construction work recently. Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that it
is the objective of the government to provide all facilities enjoyed by the
people of the South to their colleagues in the North as well and hence the
government has given priority for improving the transport services in the North.
The construction work of the railway line is carried out by the
Indian Railways Construction Company, IRCON under a concessionary credit line
provided by the Indian Government following agreements reached during the first
visit made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India.
IRCON also upgraded the coastal railway line from Colombo to
Matara and this project upon completion was handed over to Sri Lanka Railways by
the Indian Opposition Leader Mrs. Sushma Swaraj during her recent visit to Sri
Lanka with an Indian Parliamentary delegation.
The Indian Company is also to complete the 90 km-long
Omanthai-Pallai section as well as supply and installation of signalling and
telecommunication system as well.
The complete Northern Railway network was destroyed by the
terrorists as one of their measures to prevent people in the North visiting the
South and having any connection with the people in the South. The government has
given priority to re-establish road and railway links between North and South
for the revival of amity and friendship between the people.
Courtesy : Government Information Department
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment